Fairy Tales until August at the British Library

Fahad Redha

May 8, 2026
2 min read

Fairy Tales until August at the British Library

Fairy Tales at the British Library celebrates the iconic heroes, villains, and fantastical creatures in the worlds of these stories. Young children and their families are invited to travel through a mysterious forest and an enchanted palace to discover the characters, creatures, and ideas that shape magical stories and their retellings, including encounters with powerful spells and curses, as well as the iconic heroes and villains from across storytelling cultures.

Visitors to Fairy Tales will start their journey in a cosy cottage with a crackling hearth. There they will discover the oral storytelling origins of the stories, exploring the breadth and wealth of storytelling traditions through a collection of French stories in folk tales from around the world including Histoires du temps passé by Charles Perrault, a beautiful illustration by Mervyn Peake for an edition of Household Tales by the Brothers Grimm. They can re-discover the origins of their favourite stories through historic manuscripts and early printed editions including a depiction of the legend of Mulan.

After the cottage, visitors enter a deep dark woods where they encounter heroes and villains from stories including Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, and Rapunzel, as well as contemporary retellings such as Zombierella written by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Freya Hartas. This part of Fairy Tales examines how the representation of characters has evolved over time.

After the woods, families arrive in a royal palace, discovering the forms of magic within the stories, including spells and curses, before stepping into a “far far away land,” where they will meet the magical creatures that inhabit the stories.

Fairy Tales concludes in a “happily ever after” inspired ending where families can read their favourite stories together, marvelling at iconic tales from the British Library’s collection. Here, young visitors are encouraged to “reflect on the infinite potential of storytelling and how magical tales continue to be retold and reimagined.”

Fairy Tales is at the British Library until the 23^rd August. Visit the website more information and stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.